There were a lot of reasons to be excited about the Moto X when Motorola introduced the phone last summer, and one of its more unusual claims to fame was that the handset would be assembled right here in the US. By contrast, we’re used to smartphones being fully manufactured before they’re imported into the country. We had our concerns that employing a US workforce might drive the phone’s cost up, but not only did the Moto X end up being one of the most affordable, best values around, but the plant’s US location allowed customized phones to arrive on users’ doorsteps just days after their orders were placed. Unfortunately, this experiment with US smartphone assembly will soon be drawing to a close, as Motorola confirms its intention to close the facility by the end of the year.

It looks like concerns with expenses are behind the decision, and despite our affinity for the Moto X, the phone never managed to sell in high enough numbers for economies of scale to deliver the savings Motorola was hoping for. Combining that with the higher cost of labor and shipping in the US, and Motorola can’t justify keeping the plant running.

Manufacture of the Moto X (and presumably, its follow-up) will continue at other facilities around the world, including factories in China and Brazil. Lenovo’s current effort to acquire Motorola was reportedly not a factor in the decision to close the Texas plant.